The new Syrian authorities have decided to cancel the investment agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz on the lease of the Tartus port. This was reported by the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan, citing a statement by the director of the local customs office, Riyad Judi. According to the official, the port is returning to the full control of the Syrian state, and the income from its activities will be used to develop the national economy.

"The workers employed at the port will again be under the control of the Syrian side. All income will now be directed to the benefit of the Syrian state," — Judy noted.

The decision to terminate the contract is due to failure to comply with the obligations set out in the contract, as well as the unsatisfactory performance of the port in recent years.

Recall that the Tartus port was leased to Stroytransgaz for 49 years in 2019. The company, whose main beneficiary is Russian businessman Gennady Timchenko, pledged to invest $500 million in infrastructure modernization. However, according to Judy, the Russian side has not fulfilled its stated obligations, including upgrading port equipment. High service fees have led to a reduction in activity at the port, and in recent months its work has virtually stopped.

Since the change of power in Syria last December, the port of Tartus has begun to regain its importance. According to Al-Watan, the flow of dry cargo from other countries has increased significantly, indicating a revival of economic activity in the region.

In addition to the civilian port, Tartus is also home to a Russian naval base, the fate of which has also been in question since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The Russian side reportedly began withdrawing its ships from the port in December, but the process has encountered obstacles. According to sources, the new Syrian authorities have restricted the removal of weapons and military equipment. This has led to Russian ships drifting in nearby waters for several weeks.

Analysts note that the situation around the port of Tartus and the Russian military base in Syria reflects the worsening relations between Moscow and the new authorities in Damascus. The termination of the contract with Stroytransgaz and restrictions on the removal of military equipment raise questions about the future of the Russian presence in the region, which was previously considered strategically important.